Electrical switch



B. D. HORTON.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2a. 1918.

1,378,232. Patented May 17, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET lfirm/wa y B. D. HORTON.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. 1918.

1 ,378,232. Patented May 17, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mil [W700 BRYSON D. HORTON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN. J

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application filed January 22, 191 5,'Seria.1 No. 8,703. Divided and this application filed October 28, 1918. Serial No. 259,888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRYSON D. HORTON, a citizen of the United States, residin at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented certain new .and useful Improvements in Electrical Switches, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and concise description thereof.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in that type of electrical switch commonly referred to as iron or armor-clad, in which the switch mechanism is held within a metallic protecting casing and is provided with means whereby it may be operated from without requiring an opening of the cover and the exposure of the live conductor parts.

The object of my invention is to improve this general type of switch to minimize the element of hazard which is present in handling high potential circuits; to improve and simplify the mechanical construction of the switch mechanism itself, and to improve the structural form of metallic or protecting housing.

A further object of my invention is to so design this electrical switch that a quick or sudden break is assured.

A further object of my invention is to simplify the construction of quick break switches externally operated and incased in a suitable housing.

A further object of my invention is to produce a quick break switch in which the knife blades are positively moved from engagement with the stationary contacts for a portion of their movement and are thereafter rapidly withdrawn from contact therewith by resilient means. i

A further object of my inventionis to provide means whereby upon the closing of the switch the knife blades are positively forced into engagement with stationary con tacts.

This case is a division of my earlier copending application, Serial No. 3,703, filed January 22, 1915, for electrical switches.

A few of the many possible forms which my invention may take are shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of an inclosed electrical switch of thequick break type,

the cover of such switch box being shown in.

open position. a

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the switch" shown in Fig. 1 on section line 22 but with cover closed.

\ Fig. 2 is adetached View of the connecting device showing it associated with the-crosshead and the switch blade, these parts being in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the link employed in the switch shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the means for securing the quick break.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View of another type of inclosed quick break switch.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 showing a portion of the switch operating mechanism in another position from that shown in Fig. 6 with the accelerating mechanism nearly ready to function.

Fig. 8 is a. detail of a modified form of link which may be used with a switch of the type shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a further modified form of a link ghich may be used with the switch shown in Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of a further modification of the switch operating mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is'an enlarged view showing the cooperation of the snap mechanism and crosshead .when the moving contacts are being withdrawn from the fixed contacts on line 12-12 of Fig. 7

Referring in detail to the drawings it will be seen that the switch proper is housed within a metallic protecting casing or box 1. Such box has hinged thereto a cover 2, which is provided with a recessed portion 3, adapted to accommodate a portion of the switch mechanism when the same is operated. This switch mechanism consists of a plurality of stationary contacts-4, which ma be of the spring jaw. type adapted to recelve between the jaws 5 thereof, the free ends of pivoted Patented Ma 17, 1921.

knife blades 6. At the other end of this adapted to receive the other end of the fuse.

" These contacts have formed therewith a vThese pivoted knife blades. 6 are joined by means of-a crosshead 13, which may be a metal bar provided with insulating sleeves 13. About each of these sleeves a connecting device 14 is clamped by means of a screw 141, thereby securin the sleeves on the metal bar. This connecting device, as shown in Fig. 2 is preferably made from a single piece of metal forming aportion 142 conforming to the contour of the sleeve 13, thus providing a seat therefor and the depending part 143 to which the knife-blade contact is riveted by suitable rivets 144.

The operating member for actuating these i knife blades consists of an external handle 15, which 0 erates an internal operating crank ,16, which is journaled in the sides of the'casing 1. This handle is of one piece construction made of a piece of tubing slotted at- 15' and swaged into an intermediate 'flat portion 16' and provided with curved end portions 17. A bolt 18' serves to hold the parts together, but not sufliciently tight to prevent the crank v16 from moving free of the handle 15 when the spring 24 acts to snap the switch open. Such operating crank is retained in position on one side, as may be seen by the collar or washer 17, and the cotter pin 18. On the other side such crank is journaled in two cup-shaped members 19, which are fastened to the casing 1. The operating crank 16 is connected in this case positively with the crosshead 13 by means of the link 20. This link 20 may consist'of two plates bolted or fastened to-' gether as shown at 21 (Fig. 3), and may have two recesses or notches formed as shown at 22, one in each of the members, and is provided at 23 with an opening- This opening 23 in the assembling of the switch is adapted to have the crosshead threaded therethrough, andafter the notched portions 22 are positioned around the operating crank 16 the two members are bolted together thereby positively connecting the operating crank and crosshead 13 and passes loosely through member 25.

Between the operating member 15 and the crank 16 is interposed a resilient connection which consists of a spring 24, which bears at one end against the member 25, which last member is a continuation of the operating crank 16. At. the, other end the spring 24 W- bears against a washer 26, which is fastened to a curved rod 27, which latter is rigidly (iiastened to the operating member of hanle 15. a

It will thusbe seen thatwhen the operating member of handle 15 is moved so as to withdraw the cooperating contacts from engagement with each other, the spring 24 is compressed and places a stress upon the member 25, tending to withdraw'the contacts from mutual engagement. When the spring reaches-such a compression that it overcomes the frict onal adherence between thestationary contacts 5 and the movable contacts 6, such contacts are quickly withdrawn from engagement with each other and thereby serves to prevent arcing. If for any reason the tension of the spring was not sufiicient for this purpose, such spring would be compressed until the successive coils thereof were positioned one upon the other so that the operating handle 15 would come into positive engagement with the crank 16 through the medium of these contacting coils of-the, Spring, the washer 26 and the curved rod 27.

Fig. 2 shows thefawitch in open'position' and shows relative position of the parts, and is a section of Fig. 1 along the line 2-2.

It is often found advantageous to provide an inclosed switch of this type with a lockofl device which comprises a member. 28, which is fastened to the cover in such a position that when the crank 16 is swung to its extreme position as shown in Fig. 2, such lock-off, when the coveris thereafter closed, is in a position to contact with such crank as shown in Fig. 2, and thereby prevent the closing of the switch until. the cover is opened.

Referring now to the form of invention' shown in Figs. 5 to 7, it will be seen that substantially the same general arrangement of switch parts is adhered to. The. difference lies in the means for securing the quick break. In this case the operating handle 29 is integrally formed with the crank 30, and by its motion controls the motion of such crank 30. The motion of the crank 30 is transmitted to the crosshead 13 by means of a link 31, which upon reference to Fig.6 will be seen to comprise a strap like member con necting the crosshead and crank, and provided at one end with an elongated slot as shown at 32, to allow for play of the cross head as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The other end of this link is journaled upon the operating crank 30.

It will be noted that the crank 16, Fig. 1, or 30 of Fig. 5, and the handle 29 of Fig. 5, or member 25 of Fig. 1, are made up of a single piece of metal, which is preferably of round case, and a crank or bail-shaped portion 30' which spans the movable contacts. The bailshaped portion terminates in two portions which may be termed alined bearing portions, one of which coeperates with one wall of the case, and the other with the other wall, the latter being between the handle and bailshaped portion. This unitary piece of metal is readily inserted endwise through the apertures in the walls of the casing, and may be pinned in place, as above pointed out, by

. means of washer and cotter pins 17 and 18 or with two cotter pins as shown in Fig. 5 (without reference character). This onepiece operating member is readily made in a die, or may be cast, and as it. extends completely across the case from one wall to the other, there is less tendency to pull it out of place by the switch contacts. There is also less friction set up than there would be in an operating crank pivoted on only'one wall of the casing, especially in the larger switches. In multi-polar switches, especially those having three or more poles, the fastening means for the link 20 or 31 is so remote from the side wall of the casing that the forces become seriously unbalanced. It is 30 is moved from the position shown in Figs.

5 and 6 past the position shown in Fig. 7 to an extreme position, the spring 33, which is connected to the crank 30 and the crosshead 13, is stretched or placed under tension, and that in the extreme position the end 33 of the spring contacts with the arcuate portion 31' of. the member 31. Upon continued movement of the operating crank, the crosshead is positively moved counterclockwise, thereby withdrawing the movable knife blades 6 from engagement with their cooperating contacts 5. When the frictional adherence between these last mentioned members has decreased to a suflicient value the spring 33 suddenly withdraws the contacts 6 from engagement with the coeperating contacts 5 and thus produces a sudden break in the electrical circuit thereby minimizing the tendency to are.

The crosshead 13 carries two insulating sleeves 13' which are separated as shown in Fig. 12, leaving an intermediate portion of the metal member exposed. About this eX- posed metal the end of the spring 33 is hooked, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. When the switch snaps open, the spring 33 brings the crosshead 13 sharply against the lower end of the slot. This gives metal to metal con- I the utility of the switch, rendering the life Short.

The slotted link may take several forms, as for example that shown in Fig. 8, in which it consists of a channel member 34, which at one end is provided with elon ated slots 35, and at the other end is provi ed on each of the two outer portions of the channel member with inwardly extending fingers 36, which between them form a notched portion 37, through which the operating member 30 is adapte to pass.

The slots 35 are closed at the lower end as by the webs 35' which re-act against the crosshead 13 in positively pulling the switch blades out of the fixed contacts. These webs webs 41' for the same purpose as 35' above.

These members are also provided with out wardly extending ears 41 and 42, the ears 42 being perforated. These cars 41 and 42 extend through alining perforations through a member 43, which forms the base portion, so to speak, of the link. In order to hold these'members in position a cotter pin or split pin 44 is passed through the perforated ears 42, as shown in Fig. 9, and thereafter secured in place by spreading the ends as shown. It is of course understood that in each of these forms of links the spring 33, as described in connection with Figs. 5, 6 and 7, is to be used.

\ Referring to the modified form of accelerating mechanism or mechanism for securing a quick break, shown in Figs. 10 and 11, it will be seen that such mechanism is to a certain extent similar to that shown in Fig. 4. In this modification the operating member 45 consists of a channel piece which is bent in a curved form, as shown at 46, to form a conveniently shaped handle, its two free ends are thereafter brought together and secured in place by means of the fastener 47. A recess is provided through which the straight portion of the crank 48 freely passes to thereby provide a pivot or journal point for this operating member 45. A curved rod 49 is secured to the operating member 45 at one end, and at its other end has positioned thereon a washer 50. This rod 49 passes through an arm portion 51 of the crank. Against this arm portion 51, and the washer 50, presses a spring 52, which acts in a manner identical to that described in connection with Fig. 4.

It is of course understood that inall of these forms the electrical contact portions are insulated from the housing or casing, by means of suitable insulating materia such as is well known and clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7.

It willreadily be seen from the detail description given above that applicant has provided a very simple and rugged inclosed quick break electrical switch.

It will further be seen that applicant has provided a switch of this type which is composed of a ver small number of parts and may be readi y assembled and manufactured at a very low cost.

. It will further be seen that applicant has provided a quick break switch in a structure which is of the standard type for an armorclad or inclosed switch, externally operated by suitable means.

It is to be understood that the detailed description and drawings are. to be interreted in an illustrative sense and not a limlting sense, as applicants invention is to be limited only as set forth by the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An inclosed electrical switch comprising a plurality of pi'voted knife blades, a plurality of stationary contacts cooperating with the free ends of said knife blades, an

internal crank, an external handle for operating said crank, a link having an elongated slot connecting said internal crank and pivoted knife blades, and a resilient connection between said knife blades and internal crank. I

2. An inclosed electrical switch comprising a plurality of stationary contacts, a plurality of cooperating pivoted knife blades, an internal operating crank, an external operating handle for operating said crank, a

link connecting said pivoted knife blades and internal crank and provided with an elongated slot for allowing lost motion, and a spring connecting said internal crank and pivoted knife blades for accelerating the withdrawal of the pivoted knife blades from the stationary contacts.

1 3. An inclosed electrical switch compris ing a plurality of pivoted knife blades, a plurality of cooperating stationary contacts, a cross head joining said pivoted knife blades, an internal operating crank, a link journaled on said internal operating crank and having an elongated slot cooperating with said cross head to allow lost motion, aspring connecting said internal crank and said cross head, and an external handle for operating said internal crank.

4. An electrical switch comprising a plurality of movable contacts, fixed contacts cooperating therewith, a crosshead rigidly supported by the movable contacts and insulated therefrom, an intermediate portion of the crosshead beingmetallic, and means to open said switch comprising a coiled spring metallic portioniadjacent the fastened end of the spring, and an operating member with which the link and spring are associated.

'5. An electrical switch, comprising a plurality of movable contacts, fixed contacts co operating therewith, a crosshead rigidly supported by the movable contacts and insulated therefrom, an intermediate portion of the crosshead being metallic and means to open said switch comprising a link having an elongated slot through which the metallic portion passes, one end of the slot being adapted to engage the metal portion to withdraw the movable contacts from the fixed contacts, the other end of the slot being adapted to engage the metal portion to force the movable contacts toward the fixed contacts, and a spring which is stressed when the movable contacts are thus withdrawn.

6. An electrical switch, comprising a fixed and amovable contact, the movable contact insulatively supporting a metallic part, and means cooperating with said part to first positively and then yieldingly urge the movable contact away from the fixed contact, said means comprising a spring and slotted link.

7. An electrical switch, comprising a fixed and a movable contact, the movable .contact insulatively supporting a metallic part, and means cooperating with said part to first positively and then yieldingly urge the movable contact away from the fixed concrank and a spring and slotted link, said spring being connected at one end to the crank and at the other end with the metallic part.

8. An electrical switch, comprising an operating crank, movable contacts, an insulating crosshead connected to the contacts for operating the same, and a snapmechanism between the crank and crosshead and comprising a spring connected to both said parts and a metal member connected directly to one of said parts and connected to the other part through an elongated slot, said other 'part being metallic.

'tact, said means comprising an operating.

and movable contacts, and means to operate said movable contacts, comprising a crank, a spring and a slotted link housing, said housing being operatively connected to said crank and movable contact, the slot providing lost motion, the spring being within the housing and-operatively connected to both crank and movable contact.

11. A link for snap switches formed of sheet met-a1 and comprising two parallel walls and an intermediate portion, each of said parallel walls having an elongated slot near one end but spaced therefrom whereby. a closing web is provided. I

12. A link for snap switches formed oi metal and comprising two parallel walls and an intermediate portion, each of said walls having an elongated slot near one end to provide a lost motion connection for one part of a switch operating mechanism, said link being. provided at the other end with means to connect it to another part-of the switch mechanism whereby said last mentioned part will move in unison there-- with.

13. In a swltch mechanism, in combina-,

' tion, a plurality of stationary contacts, a

plurality of pivoted blade contacts cooperating respectlvely therewith, a cross member of metal for joining the blades toward their free ends, sleeves o-finsulating material on said.. cross member, clamps for connecting said sleeves to said blades, a crank, a link connecting said crank and said cross member substantially centrally between .certain' of said blades and an operating handle on said crank.

14:- In a switch mechanism, in combina: tion, a plurality of stationary contacts, a plurality of pivoted blade contacts cooperatmg respectively therewith, a cross member of metal for joining the blades toward their free ends, insulating means between said cross member and said blades, a crank, a link connecting said crank and said cross member substantially centrally between certain of said blades and an operating handle on said crank.

15. In a switch mechanism of the character described, the combination of a plurality of stationary jaw contacts, a plurality of pivoted knife-blade contacts cooperating with said stationary contacts, an actuator member cross-connecting said knife-blade contacts at a distance removed from the pivotal supports thereof, said actuator member comprising a metallic bar, insulating sleeves surrounding said bar, andsheet metal clamps having portions engaging said insulating sleeves, and clamping the same rigidly to said bar and having integral ears bent parallel with and adjacent to said knife-blade contacts and connected thereto; a crank, a link secured to said crank and said "actuator and being disposed between said insulating sleeves thereby to free ends, sleeves. of insulating material upon said cross member, clamps for connecting said cross member to said pivoted blades, said clamps also binding said sleeves rigidly upon said metal cross member, and

' means for operating said cross member to thereby operate the blades.

17. Ina switch mechanism the combinat1on of a pluralitv of stationary contacts and blade contacts cooperating respectively therewith, said blade contacts having a dimet independent of said pivotal mounting, for joining the blades adjacent their free ends, sleeves of insulating material surrounding. said cross member, clamps for connecting said cross member with said pivoted blades, said clamps comprisin a binding portion surrounding the insulatmg sleeves and rigidly clamping the same u on said cross member and an extended por ion fastened to said blades, and means for operating said cross member and to thereby operate said blades.

18.' The combination with an electric switch having an inclosing casing provided rect pivotal mounting, of a cross member of with opposite walls, an insulating base supported by the casing and having fixed and movable contacts, said walls being apertured; of a switch operating member comprising a single piece of metal of substantially uniform cross-sectionthroughout its length formed to provide a handle, a bailshaped portion and two alined bearing portions, the alined bearing portions being at the ends of the bail-shaped portion, and one of the alined bearing portions being intermediate the handle and bail-shaped portion, said switch operating member being insertible through the apertures whichprovide .bearings for the alined bearing portions.

I 19. In an inclosed-switch structure, incombination a casing thereof having aperture in each of two opposite walls, and

a switch operating member composed of a continuous unitary rod centrally offset to provide a bail-shaped portion with two alined bearing portions adjacent thereto and formed atone end to provide an external handle, said member being tortuously insertible longitudinally into position for locating said alined bearing portions in the respective apertures aforesaid.

20. In an incloscd switch structure, the combination of the casing thereof having an aperture in each of two opposite walls, and a switch operating member composed of a continuous unitary rod of substantially uniform cross section throughout, centrally offset to provide a bail-shaped portion with two alined bearing portions adjacent thereto and formed at one end to afford an external handle, said member being tortuously insertible longitudinally into position for 10- eating said alined bearing portions in the respective apertures aforesaid.

21. An electric switch comprising fixed and movable contacts, a cross-head secured to said movable contacts, an operating crank for said switch, a link having a slot therein connecting said crank and cross-head, and a spring adapted to be elongated by the movement of said crank in one direction and compressed by the movement thereof in the other direction.

22. An electric switch comprising fixed and movable contacts, a cross-head secured to said movable contacts, an operating crank for said switch, a spring connecting said crank and said cross-head, and means comprising a link having a slot therein whereby said spring is first elongated, then said movable contacts are positively withdrawn from engagement with said fixed contacts and finally said spring resumes its normal length to accelerate the disengagement of said movable and fixed contacts, the ends of said slot limiting the elongation and compression of said spring.

23. An electric switch comprising fixed and movable contacts, a cross-head secured to said movable contacts, an operating crank for said switch, a spring connecting said crank and said cross-head, and means comprising a link having a slot therein, whereby said spring is first elongated, then said movable contacts are positively withdrawn from engagement with said fixed contacts and finally said spring resumes its normal length to accelerate the disengagement of said movable and fixed contacts, and means comprising one wall of said slot whereby the movable contacts are positively urged toward the fixed contacts by' said crank, said spring at the same time being compressed, and comprising another wall of said slot whereby themovable contacts are positively disengaged from the fixed contacts by said crank, the spring being elongated during said disengagement.

24. An electric switch comprising fixed and movable contacts, a cross-head secured to said movable contacts, an operating crank for said switch, a link through which said crank passes, connecting sald crank and cross-head and having a slot therein, and a spring adapted to be elongated by the movement of said crank in one direction and compressed by the movement thereof in the other direction.

25. An electric switch comprising fixed and movable contacts, a cross-head secured to said movable contacts, an operating crank for said switch, a spring connecting said crank and said cross-head, and means comprising a link having a slot therein whereby said spring is first elongated, then said movable contacts are positively withdrawn from engagement with said fixed contacts, and finally said spring resumes its normal length to accelerate the disengagement of said movable and fixed contacts, means comprising one wall of said slot whereby the movable contacts are positively urged toward the fixed contacts by said crank, said spring at the same time being compressed, and

comprising another wall of said slot whereby the movable contacts are positively disengaged from the fixed contacts by said crank, the spring being elongated during said engagement, the slot. in said link admitting of lost motion whereby said elongation accelerates the movement of the movable contacts after the positive disengagement thereof.

BRYSON D. HORTON. 

